Following the FDA's rejection of Qutenza for the management of HIV-related pain, the product's potential in the neuropathic pain market will remain limited to postherpetic neuralgia. NeurogesX intends to shift its focus to the development of NGX-1998, a more user-friendly liquid formulation of the drug. However, current topical pipeline agents will provide fierce competition.

Published By Datamonitor

Safety concerns and high price points have limited the use of Novartis's Gilenya in the European multiple sclerosis market since its launch in January 2011. However, the decision by the UK's cost watchdog to recommend Gilenya for multiple sclerosis will support the product's future sales, which Datamonitor estimates will reach $2.2bn across the seven major markets by 2020.

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New data presented at the World Vaccines Congress demonstrate that BiondVax's developmental influenza vaccine can also act as a booster to existing seasonal influenza vaccines in elderly patients. A vaccine with increased efficacy in the elderly is one of the largest unmet needs in influenza prevention, although the need for patients to take multiple vaccinations may hinder its success.

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Sanofi and Genzyme have presented additional data analysis demonstrating Lemtrada's superiority over Rebif in reducing disability in MS. However, due to Lemtrada's potential to lead to the development of autoimmune adverse events, Datamonitor expects that the drug will be used at later lines of therapy and in patients with severe forms of MS.

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Strong Q1 sales and significant velocity for its ADHD product Vyvanse suggest that Shire will be heralding a new blockbuster by the end of the year. Furthermore, with approval pending in European markets and investigations into additional psychiatric indications providing promising results, Vyvanse is set to deliver long-term sales growth.

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Biogen used the platform of the 64th American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting to provide updates on its extensive MS portfolio. Much time was devoted to its Phase III pipeline candidate BG-12, which looks set to be the next agent to enter the market, as well as the presentation of long-term safety data for Tysabri.

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Teva, Eisai, and GlaxoSmithKline all used the opportunity of this year's American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting to showcase pooled analysis of their late-stage pipeline candidates. While not groundbreaking, the positive data for laquinimod (MS) and perampanel and Potiga (epilepsy) will bolster physician confidence and position the drugs well in their respective markets.

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In keeping with American Academy of Neurology meetings of recent years, multiple sclerosis once again dominated proceedings at AAN 2012. Novartis used the platform to present new data from the extension FREEDOMS II trial to support the long-term use of Gilenya, and provided Phase II results for siponimod in relapse remitting multiple sclerosis.

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At AAN 2012, Merck Serono presented data from a long-term study showing that early Rebif treatment significantly reduced the clinical progression of multiple sclerosis. However, early intervention should be used cautiously to avoid unnecessary treatment.

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New clinical data were presented at APA 2012 that showed that Latuda is effective as an adjunctive treatment for bipolar depression and may possess a procognitive effect in schizophrenia patients. These findings set Latuda apart from the competition and may allow the drug to shine in a fiercely competitive antipsychotics market.